Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-01
A CLUB HOUSE HOSPITAL.
Furnished with Billiard, Chess
Rooms and Parlors.

Furnished with Billiard, Chess
Rooms and Parlors.
NEW YORK. Jan. 29.-Visitors to a well.
known New York hospital uptown fire.
quently express astonishment at the ap-
pearance and character OF the inmates OF
one end of the building. 1t is furnished
much like first-clsss club house. There
are billiard and chess rooms, smoking
apartments, elegant parlors, and a choice
library. The rooms face TO the south,
and are inundated with flood of cheer
full sunlight Verypleasant morning. The
latest newspapers and the freshest maya
zines are always to be found Oh the CEN
ire tables. Above this suite of rooms are
bedrooms with iron-barred windows.
Each apartment is heated by steam and
plainly furnished. There are no carpets
on the floors. The window curtains and
the clothing on the iron bedsteads are as
white as snow, and the brass knobs sur
mounting the foot and head boards are
polished until they shine like gold.
White-capped nurses fit through the cor
ridOrs like ghosts, and occasionally ap-
palling cries are heard from darkened
rooms at the east end of the edifice. Com
valescents are to be seen in the parlOrs
below. Nearly all are men of dignified
appearance. Many are gray-haired, and
all are weli-dTessed. Most of them wear
dressing gowns and slippers. All are
well educaIed,Vand converse with readi-
ness on the r1ost Interesting topics of the
day. You VIII find among them a WELL
known hotel proprietor, several brokers
and real estate dealers, one or two Jour-
nalists, few, lawyers of inferior intel
lects Including one of unrivaled bril-
liancy as an advocate, half dozen poll
tlcIans and Congregational CLERGYMAN
unstained with heterod0Xy. They are a
remarkable group. All seem to have gone
through the furnace of intense suffering.
Their lips are dry, and are frequently
molstened by the action OF the tongues.
Their faces are bieached and blanched.
Subdued nervousness is apparent in their
eyes and in their manner and bearing.
They are cOurtly and polite in inter-
course, but it is the cOurtliness andA)O-
likeness of party of French mobiles who
cannot shake of. memories OF the Reign
Of Terror. On The surface all is suayIty
and amenity, but beneath it there Is q
strong undertow of reserve. They smile
at each jeu de met and each jeu d'esprit,
but they rarely laugh outright, and they
never slap each other on the knee in the
intensity of their enjoyment. At times
you see them furtively watching each
other, as though lost in the depths of mem
tai speculation. Anon they herd together
like sheep in panic. Some sit at tables
reading or writing with spasmoiic en-
ergy, and others play billiards, A very
few are trying to work out abstruse
problems at chess. All appear to be men
OF wealth, aimiessly busy and nervous as
to their future. Care is written on their
features, and each man seems to be
cankered at the heart.
You may fancy this institution either a
lunatic asylum Or home for inebriates.
1t is nothing of the kind. 1t is simply a
ward in the best hospital in New York
city devoted to the cure of men who are
suffering from delirium tremens and in
mania potu. They pay $40 week en-
trance fee and $50 week when convaesc.
ing. They receive the best OF care aud
medical treatment. Like old hulks and
reclaimed wrecks they are thoroughly
fumigated, calked anew, repainted and
retitted, and again made ready for the sea
Of life. Many are thrown ON their beam
ends in the first gale that follows. and are
promptly returned to this dOckyard OF
humanity. Others are swamped out
right In typhOons OF dissipation, and
never again see the refittIng station. LIS
physicians and nurses, however, are ever
busy, day ana might, strengthening frail
crafts, bracing them 1T weak points, ard
readjustIng their cOmpasses. The best
ships are the ones who need the most fire.
quent repairing, and the fastest vessels
are those who 20 TO the bottom the quick
est. SO says the superintendent of the